BRADFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 3: Roberto De Zerbi manager of Olympique Marseille during the pre-season friendly match between Sunderland and Olympique Marseille at University of Bradford Stadium on August 3, 2024 in Bradford, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
This article is an extract from the 2025/26 74-page GFFN Guide, which you can download HERE.
Key man
The 2024-2025 season at Olympique de Marseille was another lengthy campaign full of
psychodrama. “I feel like I’m watching guys who don’t want to play in the Champions League,”
exclaimed an exasperated Adrien Rabiot following a 3-1 loss to Reims last season.
The Frenchman’s comments to the media surprised some, but it was the frustration of a
standout player who had sacrificed much both financially and emotionally to join Marseille. Не
received plenty of abuse from supporters of his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, when he
arrived at the Parc des Princes with OM’s captain armband – success at Marseille was a must.
Roberto De Zerbi’s choice to switch Rabiot’s positioning since the turn of 2025 proved revelatory.
The Italian saw the attributes necessary in Rabiot, in his height at 1.91 metres and an excellent
sense of positioning to be able to make late runs into the box. In 29 matches last season Rabiot
notched nine goals from midfield in 29 matches, and registered four assists in the process.
He enjoys a more fluid offensive midfield position, which he has kept during pre-season and will
be hugely aided by new signing Angel Gomes’ deep-lying midfield role with Pierre-Emile
Højbjerg. With his undeniable human qualities as a leader, his experience will be needed more
than ever with the Champions League on the horizon for Les Olympiens.
Signing to watch
In a summer full of transfer business for Marseille, deciding just one signing to watch is a difficult
task. Angel Gomes may already be a familiar name for Ligue 1 viewers, but his move to OM early
this summer could see him reach another level under a coach who has already nurtured the
likes of Moisès Caicedo, Manuel Locatelli, and Alexis Mac Allister into world-class midfielders in
their own right.
The Englishman came through the door at OM early in the transfer window, but he is already
becoming one of the most talked-about players among the Marseille fanbase following his
early performances in pre-season. Whilst a rejuvenated fellow former Manchester United youth
player in Mason Greenwood, has been full of goals (six in four games), it’s the technical quality
and utilisation of Gomes, a deep midfielder, which has excited those in the Provence region so
far.
The Englishman is already forming a relationship on the pitch with Greenwood, Rowe, Højbjerg
and Rabiot, with his precise floated passes to the wings that are already lauded by De Zerbi on
each occasion. This, coupled with a confident dribbling ability to beat an opposition’s press, will
drastically enhance OM’s midfield three going forward.
Squad analysis
OM’s summer business majorly hinged on Roberto De Zerbi continuing at the club. Whilst his commitment was not in doubt after Champions League qualification, the Italian was looking for assurances from Longoria, Benatia, and, most importantly, American owner Frank McCourt in a visit to the USA in late May. It was there that the former Brighton manager committed to the next season.
And then the right dominoes fell into place. Marseille had already tied up a key move for Lille’s English midfielder Gomes before reinforcing what had been a fragile backline at times last season. Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley joined the club on a free transfer, before Facundo Medina joined the club to link up with fellow Argentina international Leonardo Balerdi at the back.
In the attacking areas, OM have bolstered with the addition of Feyenoord winger Igor Paixão, who has joined in a record €35m move. Whilst the Brazilian won’t be featuring at least for the first month of Ligue 1 action due to a thigh injury, he’ll be an exciting prospect with the Champions League kicking in during September.
Then, there was a surprise return for a 36-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, done in typical Marseillais style as a” choice of the heart,” and who will hope to emulate (at least partly) his 2023-2024 season with Les Olympiens when he scored 30 goals in all competitions. Marseille also secured the return of the flexible Timothy Weah to Ligue 1, who follows in his father’s footsteps to play for Marseille after representing PSG earlier in his career. On paper, OM look stronger in every department for 2024-2025.
The manager
Roberto De Zerbi’s rollercoaster 2024-2025 season with Les Olympiens was excessive in every
sense of the term. Tension, emotion, and a fierce passion are encapsulated by De Zerbi, but it
has led to an environment which feels it is always one step away from boiling over. This was,
after all, why the Italian moved his players on a ritiro to Rome for the final weeks of the
previous season.
But on the flip side, Marseille’s ability for attacking explosivity on the pitch has been
spectacularly abundant. Just one look at Marseille’s new ‘Never Give Up’ documentary series
on the previous seaso,n finely illustrates this dichotomy.
Les Phocéens broke several goalscoring and possession records, scoring 74 goals in 34
games this season, with only PSG netting more. Out of this chaos came a satisfactory
qualification for the Champions League.
At Marseille, he has a wildly expectant fanbase and the pressure of being backed over the
summer. Europe will provide a golden opportunity to thrive at the highest level, and bold
claims of competing with PSG are certainly salivating for the OM faithful. But with raised hopes
comes raised expectations.
Verdict
“Actibus Immensis” – ‘By immense acts.’ This ancient Latin motto has been proudly displayed
on the coat of arms of the city of Marseille for centuries. Immensity and the extremities of
human emotion are all tied into the complex and often-contradictory grandeur that is
associated with Olympique de Marseille.
With the signings of Paixao, Gomes and Medina, OM are looking to raise the bar. How far can it
be raised is the question. Challenging PSG, despite grand ambitions, may be a step too far.
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